William Eric Grant
About William Eric Grant
Independent director of Capital City Bank Group, age 49, serving since 2017; currently Vice President at CivicPlus (government software/services). Previously President (2012) and CEO (2019) of Municipal Code Corporation, with earlier service as VP (2007–2012). Education and credentials: Juris Doctor (University of Virginia); attended U.S. Naval Academy and Georgetown University School of Foreign Service; U.S. Marine Corps veteran (15th MEU, deployed during Operation Enduring Freedom in 2001). No other current public company directorships.
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| CivicPlus | Vice President | Current | Leadership in gov-tech operations and client software services |
| Municipal Code Corporation | CEO | 2019 (promotion) through acquisition by CivicPlus | Led strategic, operational, and growth initiatives |
| Municipal Code Corporation | President | 2012–2019 | Oversaw business expansion and service delivery |
| Municipal Code Corporation | Vice President | 2007–2012 | Senior management experience in regulatory publishing services |
| United States Marine Corps | Service Member (15th MEU) | Deployed 2001 | Operational leadership; OEF deployment |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| CivicPlus | Vice President | Current | One of the nation’s largest providers of software/services to local governments |
| Public company boards | — | None | No other public company directorships |
Board Governance
- Independence: Board affirmatively determined Grant is independent under Nasdaq rules.
- Committees: Audit Committee member; Corporate Governance & Nominating Committee member.
- Financial expert designation: All Audit Committee members designated “audit committee financial experts” under SEC rules.
- Attendance: Board met 9 times in 2024; each director attended ≥95.6% of aggregate Board and committee meetings; all directors attended the 2024 Annual Meeting.
- Committee activity/engagement:
- Audit Committee met 16 times in 2024; oversight of financial reporting, internal controls, auditor independence, risk management (cybersecurity, regulatory matters, whistleblower procedures, 404, COSO, credit reserves, related party transactions).
- Corporate Governance & Nominating met 4 times in 2024; focused on CEO succession, bylaws/charters/Guidelines review, board refresh/onboarding, director skills alignment, cybersecurity oversight scheduling, director continuing education compliance.
- Independent director executive sessions: 5 in 2024 (without management).
- Lead Independent Director: Not Grant (role held by Stanley W. Connally, Jr.).
- Voting standard: Majority-vote resignation policy for uncontested elections.
Fixed Compensation (Director)
| Component | Amount/Terms | 2024 Value (Grant) |
|---|---|---|
| Annual cash retainer | $30,000 | $30,000 |
| Board meeting fee | $500 per meeting (incl. annual strategic meeting) | Included in fees earned |
| Committee meeting fee | $500 per committee meeting | Included in fees earned |
| Chair retainers | Audit $12,000; Compensation $8,000; Governance $8,000; Lead Independent Director $15,000 | Not applicable (not a chair) |
| Fees earned in cash (2024) | Aggregate cash | $42,500 |
| Perquisites | Aggregate < $10,000 per director | None disclosed separately for Grant |
Director compensation philosophy targets total annual fees (cash + equity + meeting fees + chair fees + LID fee) between 50th–75th percentile of peer group.
Performance Compensation (Director)
| Equity Element | Grant Date | Structure | Grant/Units | Vesting/Condition | 2024 Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual restricted stock grant | February Compensation Committee meeting (2024) | Restricted shares under 2021 Associate Incentive Plan | 1,087 shares to each independent director | Vest on Dec 31 of grant year; forfeiture if Company incurs a net loss for the year | $30,012 (fair value per GAAP; grant-date price $27.61) |
| Director Stock Purchase Plan | Ongoing | Purchases at 10% discount to FMV; purchases capped at retainer+meeting fees | 14,969 shares purchased by directors in 2024 | 237,602 shares remained available 12/31/2024 | Plan parameters; not individual to Grant |
Stock options are not used; the Company ceased granting options in 2007 and reports no options outstanding or planned.
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Role | Interlock/Conflict Note |
|---|---|---|
| None | — | No other public company boards disclosed for Grant. |
- Related-party exposure: Routine banking transactions with directors/families at market terms; no related-person transactions >$120,000 in 2024 involving directors except a long-term land lease with an entity affiliated with the CEO and reimbursement tied to property development, and architectural services from BKJ (Davenport’s firm) over several years (Board deemed no material relationship for independence). No Grant-specific related-party transactions disclosed.
Expertise & Qualifications
- Executive leadership in gov-tech and regulatory publishing; legal training (JD), national security/foreign service coursework; military operational experience.
- Audit oversight: Serves on Audit Committee; committee membership designated as “audit committee financial expert” by Board under SEC rules.
Equity Ownership
| Holder | Shares Beneficially Owned | Shares Outstanding Reference | Ownership % |
|---|---|---|---|
| William Eric Grant | 28,765 | 17,046,077 outstanding at 2/20/2025 | ~0.17% (28,765 / 17,046,077) |
- Stock ownership guidelines (directors): Expected to own Company stock equal in value to 10x annual director retainer fees (including annual cash and equity grants); compliance window 10 years from first appointment/election. As of 12/31/2024, all directors met expectations or are on track.
- Pledging/Hedging: Company policy prohibits short sales; pre-clearance and blackout periods apply. No pledged shares disclosed for Grant (pledges noted for other individuals).
Governance Assessment
- Board effectiveness: Grant contributes governance rigor through active roles on Audit and Corporate Governance & Nominating, both of which were highly engaged in 2024 (16 and 4 meetings respectively), including intensive oversight of cybersecurity, financial reporting, succession planning, and board refresh; attendance ≥95.6% underscores engagement.
- Independence and alignment: Affirmed independent; equity grants plus stock ownership guidelines promote alignment; directors may invest via discounted purchase plan within defined limits.
- Compensation mix: Balanced cash fees and equity ($42,500 cash; $30,012 equity in 2024), with equity subject to annual performance condition (forfeiture upon net loss); no options, tax gross-ups, or excessive perquisites.
- Signals to investor confidence: Strong say-on-pay approval (98.8% in 2023) and robust committee oversight processes support governance quality; independent executive sessions held five times in 2024.
- Potential conflicts/red flags: No Grant-specific related-party transactions or pledging disclosed; routine banking relationships for directors reviewed under policy; overall independence affirmed.
Overall: Grant’s governance profile reflects independence, strong committee involvement (including audit financial expertise), and high attendance with ownership alignment; no specific conflicts flagged, which supports investor confidence in board oversight quality.